Pressure accumulator

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to the art of pressure vessels, more particularly of the type having a cylindrical container, one end of which is closed having a port, and the other end of which defines an open mouth. The container has a deformable bladder of resilient material positioned therein, said bladder having a large mouth with a thickened rim portion in which is molded the lower edge of an annular metal supporting member which extends outwardly from the rim with the free edge portion of said supporting member being secured to the rim of the mouth of the container which is closed by a suitable cover. The thickened rim of the bladder on the inner surface thereof has an inwardly extending annular bead molded integrally therewith in a plane below that of the lower edge of the supporting member to permit folding of the bladder without formation of a sharp pleat.

United States Patent 1191 Schiin Nov. 11, 1975 [5 PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR 3.690.347 9/1972 Zlil'lid 138/30 [75] Inventor: Otmar Schiin. Scheidterberg,

Germany Prmmr) E.\'am11ze/'J0hn W. Huckert Assistant E\'aminerCharles Gorenstein Asslgneer g Hydraulics, 5 Angeles, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Arthur B. Colvin [22] Filed: May 1, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [21] A l N 466,007 This disclosure relates to the art of pressure vessels,

more particularly of the type having a cylindrical container, one end of which is closed having a port, and [30] Fore'gn Apphcatlon Pnonty Data the other end of which defines an open mouth. The

May 30, 1973 Germany 232746! container has a deformable bladder of resilient material positioned therein, said bladder having a large [52] US. Cl 138/30; 92/92 mouth with a thickened rim portion in which is [5 ll Int. Cl.2 F16L 55/04 molded the lower edge of an annular metal supporting Field of Search 138/30; 92/9 93 R member which extends outwardly from the rim with Y the free edge portion of said supporting member being References Cited secured to the rim of the mouth of the container UNITED STATES PATENTS I which is closed by a suitable cover. The thickened rim 2,421,076 5/1947 Linton 138/30 of the bladder the inner Surface thereof has 2,480,558 8/1949 DeKiss 138/30 watdly extending annular bead molded integrally 2,932.321 4/1960 Meicier 138/30 therewith in a Plane below that Of the lower edge 3.420.273 1/1969 Greer.... 138/30 the supporting member to permit folding of the blad- 3.500,866 3/1970 Greer .l 138/30 der without formation of a sharp pleat. 3.654.964 4/1972 Meicier et al. l38/3O 3.674.054 7/1972 Meicier 138/30 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 3,918,497

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- which defines an open mouth, a bladder of resilient deformable material having a large mouth is secured to i the mouth of the container by means of an annular su-pporting member, the upper edge of which issecured to the mouth of the container and the lower edge of which is molded in the mouth of the bladder, when the bladder folds in operation, a sharp pleat is likely to form adjacent the lower edge .of the annular supporting member with resultant rupture of the bladder.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a pressure accumulator of the above type in which the mouth of the bladder is conformed to prevent sharp folds when the bladder is deformed in use thereby preventing the formation of a sharp pleat and resultant rupture of the bladder.

These objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and more particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention;

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the accumulator incorporating the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the invention on a larger scale.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention illustratively is incorporated in a pressure accumulator which, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a container of rigid material such as steel capable of withstanding relatively high pressure.

The container comprises two complementary shells 11 and 12, the former comprising the cap or cover member for the latter which defines the body portion of the accumulator.

The rims 13, 14 of the shells are beveled as shown to define a V-shaped annular groove when the rims are aligned with their inner edges 15, 16 in juxtaposition.

Each of the shells ll, 12 has a rounded end 17, 18 so that the accumulator is a substantially cylindrical unit having substantially hemispherical ends, each of which has a port 19, 21 therethrough which are axially aligned. The port 19 is adapted to receive a suitable gas valve (not shown) and the port 21 is adapted to receive a fitting 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fitting 22 comprises a cylindrical sleeve affixed as by welding in port 21.

Positioned in the container 10 is a deformable partition, illustratively in the form of a bladder 23 of rubber or similar material having like characteristics. The bladder is closed at one end as at 24 and such closed end has secured thereon are preferably molded integral therewith a rigid button or valve member 25 which is axially aligned with the bladder and designed to move against the valve seat 26 defined by the inner end of fitting 22 when the bladder is expanded to close port 21.

The mouth 27 of the bladder 23 has a thickened rim portion 28 to which an annular supporting member 29 is affixed by being molded therein as shown. The supporting member 29 is of relatively thin resilient sheet material such as sheet steel having an inwardly inclined mounting portion 31 at its lower end and an outwardly inclined retaining portion 32 at its upper end.

As shownin FIG. 1, the junction 33 between retaining portion 32 and the'cylindrical mid-portion 34 of the supporting member 29 is seated on the inner edge 16 of rim 14 of shell 12 and the rim 13 of shell 11 seats on the top surface of retaining portion 32, the rims 13, 14

and retaining portion 32 being secured together -.as by welding at 35.

As is clearly shown,.the thickened -rim 28 has a cylindricalouter surface 36-terminating as at junction 37 just slightly below thelower edge 38 of mounting portion 31. The outer surface-39 of the thickened rim 28 between junction-37 and the beginning 41 of the reduced thickness wall'portion of the bladder 23 is frustoconical being curved as shown.

The inner surface of the thickened rim 28 at the upper portion thereof is beveled outwardly as at 42, such beveled portion terminating at a region 43 substantially in the plane of the lower end 38 of mounting portion 31.

Molded integrally with the thickened rim 11 of the bladder 23 on the inner surface thereof is an annular bead 45 which is semi-circular in cross section and which extends from the beginning 41 of the reduced wall thickness portion of bladder 23 to the lower edge 46 of the cylindrical inner wall surface 47 of thickened rim 28.

In use of the accumulator, the bladder is charged with gas under pressure, and thereupon a fluid such as oil under pressure is forced through the fitting 22 to charge the accumulator.

This will cause the bladder to fold inwardly.

By reason of the arrangement above described, as such folding occurs, the thin wall portion of the bladder will fold inwardly around the bead 45.

Due to the size of the bead 45, the root end of the fold will be substantially curved so no sharp pleat will occur which could cause breaking of the bladder.

In addition, by reason of the substantial rigidity afforded by the thickened rim 28 of the bladder and the presence of the annular bead 45, the tendency of a fold to occur at the lower end 38 of mounting portion 31 which could cause cutting of the bladder is substantially precluded.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pressure vessel comprising a container of rigid material having one end open and the other end closed, said closed end having an axial port therethrough, a deformable bladder of resilient material in said container, said bladder having a mouth at one end with a thickened rim portion and a reduced thickness wall portion extending from said thickened rim portion and being closed at its other end, an annular metal supporting member having an annular mounting portion of its lower edge embedded in the thickened rim portion and having an annular mounting portion at its upper edge secured to the mouth of said container, means secured to said container mouth to cover the latter, said thickened rim portion of said bladder having an annular bead on its inner surface molded integrally therewith, said annular bead lying in a plane between the lower extremity of said mounting portion and the junction between the end of said reduced thickness wall portion of said bladder and the thickened rim portion thereof.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said annular bead is semi-circular in cross section.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the outer surface of said thickened rim portion from substantially the lower extremity of said mounting portion to said junction is frusto-conical and said bead is in a plane substantially aligned with the lower end of said frusto-conical surface.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which the mounting portion is inclined inwardly, the inner surface of the thickened rim portion is correspondingly inclined terminating in a plane substantially aligned with the lower extremity of said mounting portion and the inner surface of said thickened rim portion from the lower extremity of said inclined inner surface to the thickness wall portion of said bladder. 

1. A pressure vessel comprising a container of rigid material having one end open and the other end closed, said closed end having an axial port therethrough, a deformable bladder of resilient material in said container, said bladder having a mouth at one end with a thickened rim portion and a reduced thickness wall portion extending from said thickened rim portion and being closed at its other end, an annular metal supporting member having an annular mounting portion of its lower edge embedded in the thickened rim portion and having an annular mounting portion at its upper edge secured to the mouth of said container, means secured to said container mouth to cover the latter, said thickened rim portion of said bladder having an annular bead on its inner surface molded integrally therewith, said annular bead lying in a plane between the lower extremity of said mounting portion and the junction between the end of said reduced thickness walL portion of said bladder and the thickened rim portion thereof.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said annular bead is semi-circular in cross section.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the outer surface of said thickened rim portion from substantially the lower extremity of said mounting portion to said junction is frusto-conical and said bead is in a plane substantially aligned with the lower end of said frusto-conical surface.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which the mounting portion is inclined inwardly, the inner surface of the thickened rim portion is correspondingly inclined terminating in a plane substantially aligned with the lower extremity of said mounting portion and the inner surface of said thickened rim portion from the lower extremity of said inclined inner surface to the bead is substantially cylindrical.
 5. As an article of manufacture, a bladder of resilient material having a mouth at one end with a thickened rim portion, said bladder having a reduced thickness wall portion extending from said thickened rim and being closed at its other end, an annular supporting member of rigid material affixed at its lower portion in the upper portion of said thickened rim of said bladder, said thickened rim having an annular bead on its inner surface substantially aligned with the junction between the lower edge of said thickened rim and the reduced thickness wall portion of said bladder. 